Money Putt: LPGA Tour Members Upset About $1M Playoff Prize

Annika Sorenstam and other LPGA players “have talked to tour officials about the
size of the winner’s check” at the season-ending “LPGA Playoffs at the ADT” beginning
next year, as they are concerned it “could skew the money list,” according to
Doug Ferguson of the AP. The $1M first-place prize is the largest in women’s golf
and nearly doubles the $560,000 the winner of the U.S. Women’s Open receives.
LPGA player Lorie Kane: “The money list is important. I don’t think somebody should
come out and win $1[M] and pass someone who’s had an awesome year.” Sorenstam
added, “The first prize is too much money. I don’t mind the first prize being
$1[M], but I recommended that maybe $500,000 would count on the money list, and
give the player a $500,000 bonus.” Ferguson noted Sorenstam “has incentives built
into her endorsement contracts” that reward her for topping the money list. LPGA
VP/Tournament Business Affairs Rob Neal said that officials “would be talking
during the offseason about whether to apply only part of the $1[M] toward the
money list” (AP, 11/22). More Sorenstam: “The money list means a lot. The
fans look at the money list, and that’s kind of our (world) ranking” (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 11/23).